150 jobs boost for manufacturers in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire

Nearly 150 manufacturing jobs have been created or safeguarded in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire over the last 12 months thanks to the backing of a specialist business support programme.

The Manufacturing Growth Programme (MGP), which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and designed and delivered by Oxford Innovation Advice, has delivered more than 80 strategic reviews to firms in the region – despite being in the midst of the pandemic.

Specialist assistance from dedicated manufacturing growth managers has helped companies to improve quality performance, access new markets, develop new products and address environmental concerns.

In a deal agreed with D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, more than £130,000 of grants have been given out and this has been matched with £260,000 of private sector investment as manufacturing SMEs begin to bounce back from the effects of COVID-19.

Management teams still have until December 2022 to tap into MGP and make the most of a further £360,000 of support.

“Derbyshire and Nottingham manufacturers are extremely resilient, especially with what has been thrown at them over the last two years,” explained David Caddle, regional manager of MGP. “Despite the pandemic, companies are still looking to grow sales and achieve competitive advantage and that’s where our team come in, using the GROWTHMapper benchmarking tool to identify pain points within the business.

“We can then use this to inform the specialist support they need, delivering grants that can help with a third of the total cost of an improvement project up to a maximum of £10,000.”

He added: “There are still grants available to support the industrial bounce back and to help companies overcome the widespread supply chain and inflationary pressures we are seeing.”

Manufacturing Growth Programme
www.manufacturinggrowthprogramme.co.uk